No problem!
This is a Scottish story. The Shadow Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, is apparently regarded by some senior Scottish Tories as a problem: "the David problem".
The man who shared a stage with Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan just a few weeks ago in Manchester is regarded by some of his colleagues as "a political lightweight" and "not Cabinet-level material". They don't think he'd be up to the job of Scottish Secretary and think someone else should get the job.
As I say, this is a Scottish story. And in case you'd wondered, the response from the Welsh Conservatives to any whisperings that it might have resonance in Wales is that there is no "Cheryl problem."
There would certainly be a Welsh Secretary in a Cameron cabinet go the whisperings I've heard recently.
Cheryl Gillan would be it.
She would preside over a beefed up, tuned in, switched on Wales Office.
There. What shall we call it? The Cheryl solution perhaps?
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~56~RS~)
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Snide remarks, unworthy.
Why should a politician at Westminster not want to work effectively with any other politician no-matter where he or she is located, no-matter what political party, after all it is about effective government of the whole Unite Kingdom, regional politics is just part of the whole.
As he said, we are all in this together, I guess that would also include Plaid.....
"There can only be one failure ..... not trying".
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The post of Scottish Secretary had atrophied post-devolution to the extent that Des Browne had done the job in combination with being Defence Secretary.Gordon Brown appointed Jim Murphy after the SNP victory in 2007 with the remit of trying to upstage Alex Salmond whenever possible.A tactic that has singularly failed despite Murphy trebling the number of staff at the Scottish Office.
The truth is the Scottish Secretary has little real work to do despite the current incumbent's frantic publicity seeking.
As for David Mundell we all know in Scotland that he's only the Shadow Scottish Secretary by default since he's the only Tory MP here.All he's really known for is having 700 pictures of himself on his website.
No doubt Cheryl Gillan is a more able politician but it sounds like a 'beefed up,tuned in,switched on Wales Office' run by the Tories is Cameron gearing up for an assualt on devolution.
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The link http://www.welshtimes.eu/politics.html has something to say about Ms. Gillan and offers stimulating interpretations of Conservative thinking vis-a-vis Wales.
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Gwyrangon, your link reference takes the readers to a difficult place, my brother would be horrified to read from the same link author ...
1/ The building of new private and social housing will be determined by local demand. (That is, demand from within the indigenous population). For existing social housing strong local connections will be paramount and outweigh all other considerations
2/ Welsh people to receive priority treatment in employment from private sector, public sector and ‘third sector’ employers unless it can be proven that there are no suitably qualified Welsh applicants
3/ No grant funding, loan, planning permission or other official assistance to be given to any project unless that project offers demonstrable benefits for the indigenous Welsh in terms of direct and indirect employment plus sub-contracts and the provision of other services
This proposal would be discrimination if it ever surfaced above the lunatic fringe, might I suggest changing to a more congenial hostelry to end the day.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Gwyrangon, Re your link reference http://www.welshtimes.eu/politics.html - The Rural Influx.
Is this discrimination aimed solely at the Anglo-Norman or are the other Celtic nations untermenschen too; and does this extend beyond the British Isles, are the takeaways in Pillgwentlly shuttered at dusk to avoid a Welsh ‘Night of the Shattered Glass’?
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Ah the old "Kristelnacht", don't think we'll shoot ourselves in the foot by damaging our post-pub eateries :)
I think the indigenous population needs to be protected, and by that I don't refer to just Welsh people, I take it to mean "local people", any local people. This policy has worked well in Ireland helping rural communities survive and helping local people to prosper by preventing rich city dwellers sweeping up all the housing for 2nd/holiday homes.
I've recently moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands where they shun the larger super brands in favour of local shops and I think it's a good thing. This by the way is NOT a political shun, it's a community shun. As a results there's still a refreshing community and family feel to it, not big nameless corporations running things. I feel we've lost that in the UK somewhat by becoming too reliant on the chain stores.
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What is the justification for funding from Welsh sources and otherwise assisting projects and schemes in Wales that offer no benefits to local people? Other than helping genuine political refugees I can think of no instance in which such help can be justified.
If anyone can satisfactorily answer the question then I promise to vote for the Conservative and Unionist Party at the next election.
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Welcome to the "Blue Future" Gwyrangon,
In response to your #8 ....
All people in the United Kingdom contribute to the funding you refer to, everyone in the United Kingdom who have legal domicile are equal, all the people of the United Kingdom have an equal right to share legally all the resources wherever they might be found in the United Kingdom.
To suggest otherwise would be apartheid, that is not legal.
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TheStoneMason #9: What we probably both believe is that a country, any country, has a responsibility towards its own people before it starts to to think about wider, external commitments.
Where we differ is that for you the country we live in and belong to is Britain whereas for me it's Wales. Your identity is British, mine is Welsh. This then leads you to assert that nothing must be done to defend the interests of those regarding themselves as Welsh if doing so disadvantages other British people. Whereas I of course argue that, within Wales, Welsh interests should be paramount.
These conflicting identifications and loyalties cannot be reconciled within the existing socio-ethnic and political paradigms. Seeing as Welsh interests will not be defended within the British State the only answer is to either destroy Welsh identity entirely or to have an independent Wales.
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#10
I agree with your first paragraph, the conflict is in the second paragraph where you incorrectly wrote ....
This then leads you to assert that nothing must be done to defend the interests of those regarding themselves as Welsh if doing so disadvantages other British people.
Because I do not differentiate between people, it is not possible to disadvantage a group (I suppose a cruel person might contradict my assertion). The housing problems for example are not restricted to Gwynedd or Kent, the problems are nationwide, a nationwide solution is in the offing.
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#11
The only way I can interpret your answer is that you deny the existence of Welsh identity. Is that correct?
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No, it's that all people who live, abide by its laws, pay its taxes in the United Kingdom, are equal, no-matter what labels (identity) we use, and should be treated equally.
I see no difference between a person from the Wirral moving to Gwynedd to live and work, or a person from Swansea moving to London to live and work. Each person is equal, neither should have any form of apartheid imposed.
If there is a problem, it needs a solution, not separation.
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The Welsh have exactly the same rights as any other Brit, no one is denying anyone the right to feel as Welsh, English or other as we wish. Your rights in this region, are no greater than anyone else's, get used to it.
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Re 13
I'm afraid that your answers here have the same woolly nature that we tend to get from you when someone tackles you with specific, carefully crafted arguments.
You also still insist on using the word apartheid, which is ridiculous, especially when one of the more vocal of the British nationalists on this blog has been spouting racism today in connection with Peter Hain, who, despite what any of us think of his politics today, played a prominent role in the battle against Apartheid. You have not condemned mapexx, are we to assume then that you agree with him?
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http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2009/10/15/gillan-trampling-all-over-the-assembly-in-language-row-91466-24934505/
Ms Gillan said: “If that work has been carrying on, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be asked to produce draft measures for us to see. It would give us the opportunity to go behind some of the intentions.”
Too right, in dark days of the Llafur, Plaid coalition government, we wouldn't want a full scale Welsh judiciary slyly dragged in under the back door, would we?
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FiDafydd, there is nothing woolly about my ...
No, it's that all people who live, abide by its laws, pay its taxes in the United Kingdom, are equal, no-matter what labels (identity) we use, and should be treated equally.
If you or yours propose a separation of people along socio-economic lines, preventing an "incomer" from buying property anywhere in the UK, I will label it apartheid, because that is what it is.
Huw Lewis has recently spoke out against advertising for Welsh speaker employment, he said it should be open to all with the proviso that it is a condition to learn the language, he is speaking out against an employment apartheid that is supported by the WAG through its quango.
Currently is there a difference between apartheid South Africa and Wales, of course there is, no jambock in Wales, we have job discrimination.
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